COSTANZA BY RACHEL BLACKMORE

Costanza Piccolomini is a young dutiful wife living quietly in Rome in 1636 until one fateful day she encounters the sculptor Bernini. Circumstances conspire and they set out on a smouldering, secret affair. Bernini moulds, fashions and educates her to create his idea of a perfect woman but his attempts to immortalise her in marble lead to her downfall. In the patriarchal world of Rome that results in the most dreadful consequences for Costanza.

The author has blended fact and fiction in this very well-researched novel resulting in a most atmospheric, consuming tale. She brings 17th century Rome to life for the reader on all sense levels. The sights are vivid, the descriptions detailed and you really are transported. You cannot help but admire the heroine, especially in the latter half of the book which is truly a tale of survival against the odds.

This was a holiday read for me. From page one I was walking the streets of Rome in my head with Costanza right beside me, right to the end of the book and beyond. One of those books you miss badly when it ends.

At the time of writing, this book was not available on the Leicestershire Libraries catalogue but it is sure to appear soon. This book reminded me of the books of Sarah Dunant (Sacred Hearts, In the Company of the Courtesan and The Birth of Venus) which feature female main characters, weave together historical fact and clever fiction and are based in Italy. These are all available through the Leicestershire catalogue.

Catherine Holmes

THE GUGGENHEIM MYSTERY BY ROBIN STEVENS

The Guggenheim Mystery kept me guessing – following leads until the truth was revealed! During reading the Guggenheim Mystery, when people talked to me, I just shrugged. This book is totally absorbing and there are lots of cliffhangers!

Elodie Pearson